Jen and Col met in 1996 at Burntwood leisure centre, at the Roller disco /drone held there each Wednesday. Col plucked up the courage to ask Jen out on 17th July 1996. They have been together ever since. Introduced by mutual friends, Andy Walters and Gina Busby (Gina is one of Jen’s Bridesmaids), the teenagers spent the summer hanging out, going to theme parks and generally having fun. The last 11 years seem to of flown by, Jen and Col have literally grown up together. Driving tests (the first theory test Col took he failed, Jen passed hers first time!!! :op). First jobs, 18th Birthday parties, 21st Birthday parties, 25th Birthdays parties, Loosing loved ones, making new friends, getting their first house together, sickness, health, ups and downs, you can fit a lot into a decade.

Col is now settled in his job. He is a technical sales manager at a company called ITS in Coleshill. He loves his job, which shows in the hours he puts in. His first love has always been his cars, although he assures Jen she comes a very close second. His main passion is Peugeot, he currently owns a 106 GTI and his real baby, a 205 GTI. Most of Cols spare time is taken up fixing, messing with or breaking one car or the other. One of his passions has always been football; he still plays occasionally, supports Man Utd and Walsall, a fact Jen’s Wolves supporting Granddad is not impressed with! Col also plays Golf now and has even won a competition. Col has learnt to handle birds of prey and has been known to wrestle the odd wild animal, although he drew the line at the python in the back of the settee. Col is not a house husband, but does cook rather well and is great at DIY, although it takes him a while (aviary…6 months!!!!). Col does use the kitchen sink….to wash car parts. Col likes to travel and the couple have had many happy holidays together, building memories to last a life time.

Jen began working at her Dads bird of prey and wildlife centre the minute she left school. Completing a qualification in zoo animal management, Jen absolutely adores her job, which allows her to combine her main passions, animals, falconry and talking! Most people see Jen as a zoo keeper, usually dressed in green camos and big boots; however Col knows she is actually very girly and he is not at all surprised that a woman who owns over 50 pairs of shoes would want the mother of all weddings, and to be a princess for a day. Jen in a dress will probably come as a shock to any one who knows her form her work. Jen worked alongside her Dad from the beginning, ‘helping’ him from the age of 3 she was never far from his side. All Jen ever wanted to do was to work with her Dad and the animals. In 2003 a devastating blow hit the family, when Jen’s Dad, Rob, died suddenly on 20th Dec. Jen decided to keep the wildlife centre going, which had been Rob’s life, and now runs it, with her Mom, twin sister Katie and an army of volunteers, in memory of her dad. Throughout this hard time, Col has been a rock, putting up with tears and temper tantrums, being woken at 3 in the Morning to feed a baby Puma (Tige, the only man Jen will ever love as much as she loves Col), owls in the kitchen and a certain pair of Chinchillas who are really sorry for chewing through Cols mixing decks). Jen has found her self being quite house proud, and although she is not very good at it, she loves spending time in the garden. Jens love for animals has reached home, Col has finally put his foot down on the pet front, apparently 1 dog, 2 bearded Dragons, 1 love bird, 2 Parakeets, 2 rabbits, 1 Skink and 2 chinchillas is enough for any one!!

Jen and Col have just 11 short years behind them, they plan to have many more together . Jen’ n’ Col, always and forever.